Ready to give up

Please if anyone has info on the approval process for medicaid and a Doctor who will accept it for weightloss surgery help me out, I'm at my witts end my primary insurence told me the surgery was a covered benifit but then went back and said it was excluded from the company policy so now all I have is medicaid to fall back on and I was just informed today that Dr. O the only surgeon that I know who will accept medicaid no longer takes it for weight loss surgery please help

aha! I think I have something for you. You said the magic word -- primary insurance. Dr. Louis Martin is now practicing at Vista Hospital since Katrina. I've called for a few patients and I've been told by Vista personnel that he will accept Medicaid for the surgery if you have another form of insurance in addition. I don't know why this is, but I do know as of a couple of months ago, this was the case. You can reach Vista at 225-819-4100. If you end up coming down to Baton Rouge, please let me know and I'll make myself available to help in any way I can. Don't give up, Traci! Frances

who told you Dr. O no longer takes it? What I was told by his office is that they are cutting back and that he will take patients who live in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes.

I called his office today and a lady named Karen told me he is no longer taking that I do live in tangipahoa parish so thats not an issue if you have any other information as to who I could speak to about it please let me know thanks

call and ask to speak with Rhonda. She would know for positive sure.

Trici your right. Dr.O doesnt take medicaid anymore.

Hmmm... This might have something to do with the center of excellence requirements???? I do know that Medicare/Medicaid is accepted in Lafayette at Dr. Chu and Stevens office. They are 1 of only 2 practices in the state that are coe certified right now. I have Medicare and have an initial consult Aug. 21. Good luck!! Mary Olson

Mary, The medicare program specifies that patients be seen at a COE. Medicaid, which is different from state-to-state, does not. We have quite a few Louisiana members who had surgery pre-Katrina in New Orleans and others who have been exceptions. Dr. Chung in Lake Charles has done one Medicaid patient, but it was his and the hospital's choice to accept Medicaid's reimbursement for the surgery in that case. Katrina cut the number of doctors accepting bariatric Medicaid patients to 2 or 3 and I would imagine that overwhelming patient load with much less compensation has driven them to alter their acceptance rate. Frances

i wonder what they do with people who have been to the seminar like i went in May. And i've been getting all my pre op test before i make a appt with him? I have only medicaid? I'ts important for me to have surgery else i might die, i have severe sleep apnea and heart problems with two stints and angioplasty? What are people to do? Zadie

Hey ! after I read this I called freaking out and talked to Rhonda at Dr.O 's office, but I went to the seminar in july and have a appointment! She said that r not taking any new patients ! So call her and tell her u went to the seminar in may and have been getting ur stuff together and see what she can do ! She is super nice and if she can help she will!!!!!!!!!